The England women’s rugby side, known as the Red Roses, delivered a spectacular second‑half performance that saw them overturn an early deficit and cruise to a 48‑15 victory against the Wallaroos in the opening match of the WXV Global Series at Salford's CorpAcq Stadium. The match began with Australia asserting themselves, but the hosts rallied after the break, scoring seven tries in rapid succession to cement their status as the world’s top‑ranked side. In the opening 40 minutes, the Wallaroos demonstrated why they are a formidable opponent.
A disciplined defensive line kept the Red Roses at bay, and a penalty from Australian fly‑half Samantha Wood gave them a three‑point lead after four minutes. Later, a well‑executed set‑piece saw Faliki Pohiva cross the try line, and Wood’s successful conversion pushed the score to 10‑5 in Australia’s favour at the half‑time whistle.
England’s only points before the interval came when Wood was sin‑binned for a deliberate knock‑on, allowing centre Abi Burton to dive over from close range; however, kicker Holly Aitchison missed the ensuing conversion, leaving the score unchanged. The halftime score marked a rare moment for England – the first time they had trailed at the break in seven years, a streak that dated back to 2019. The Red Roses emerged from the dressing room with renewed focus, and the change in momentum was immediate.
Within seven minutes of the restart, a well‑coordinated line‑out maul was driven over by May Campbell, and Aitchison’s conversion gave England a 12‑10 lead. This early strike set the tone for what would become a relentless attacking display.
What followed was a cascade of tries that highlighted England’s depth and versatility. On the 51st minute, captain Meg Jones capitalised on a perfectly placed Aitchison kick, grounding the ball in the corner.
Four minutes later, debutante Bryony Field powered through a driving maul to score her first international try. Just two minutes after that, wing‑forward Mia Venner exploited a gap on the flank to touch down, and on the 61st minute, centre Sadia Kabeya surged under the posts, completing a quartet of scores in just ten minutes. Each try was followed by successful conversions from Aitchison and Zoe Harrison, who also added three penalty goals, pushing the scoreboard to 34‑10 with less than twenty minutes remaining.
Australia attempted to respond, but disciplinary setbacks hampered their comeback. Eva Karpani, who had been sin‑binned earlier for an infringement during the build‑up to Venner’s try, returned to the field and managed to score a consolation try after a line‑out steal, but the damage was already done.
England continued to exploit their numerical advantage, with replacement No.7 Lucy Packer breaking through the breakdown to add another try, and Claudia Moloney‑MacDonald showcasing her speed on the wing for the final score. Harrison’s precise touchline conversion sealed the final tally at 48‑15.
The victory extended England’s unbeaten run to 39 matches, underscoring their dominance on the international stage. Post‑match, player of the match Abi Burton reflected on the performance, noting the team’s resilience: "It was tough, they made us work for it.
We knew we weren't at our best at half‑time, we needed to come out and bring it to them physically because they came out absolutely gunning. That cohesiveness started to click at the end. There is so much more to come from this team, we've just got a few teething issues to sort out.
It's going to take time for us to get back into it with a shorter pre‑season. But it's about how we adapt quickly and we're ready for the next Test match. We're a different group of players in some aspects, but the messages have always been the same: be the best versions of ourselves and be as cohesive as possible. It's an ever‑evolving Red Roses team." Looking ahead, England will travel to Exeter to face Canada on September 19 before taking on New Zealand at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium on September 26.
The comprehensive win over Australia not only provided a confidence boost but also offered valuable insights into areas for refinement, particularly in maintaining composure during the first half and avoiding unnecessary penalties. With the squad’s depth evident and the coaching staff’s strategies bearing fruit, the Red Roses appear well‑positioned to continue their winning ways throughout the WXV Global Series.